Tourists in Somerset



We've moved on now - saying thank you to our lad Daniel and our granddaughter for a great holiday in Devon. We stopped off at Tiverton, to see our old house where we lived from 1973 until 1976. This is the terrace house that we renovated and built an extension, re-wiring (done by my father-in-law), damp proofing, re-plastering and plumbing etc. Also where our 2 older children were born! We just got it finished and then moved to North Yorkshire for my first job as an Ed.Psychologist.

Our old house is the one on the left – the blue door is to the communal back path giving access to the back door and garden.

 



Seven Stars Pub – my 1^st local?

 

We have driven up to just beyond Bishop Lydiard, to a very isolated Camping Field ready for a trip to the West Somerset Steam Railway. When I say isolated, we needed to take the motorvan down some narrow single lanes!

 



Which way is it?



 

There were a couple of bee hives on the site – the bees were busy!

We visited the admirable West Somerset Railway – the longest in the UK, as it winds it's way down to the coast at Minehead. There is some incline work to do, steepest at about 1 in 75.

On the day of our visit, they were running a 'Manor' class, named after the local 40 Commando Battalion – Norton Manor. The classic DMU also had a turn. A great day out!



Back to the 1950's rural branch line

Whilst we were down this way, we drove over to Holcombe Rogus to meet up with one of Chris' cousins (and her daughter) and the next day also drove over to meet up with Chris' younger brother in Yeovil and had a pleasant time catching up.

On the way back, we dropped into Montacute House (National Trust) for tea and cake and a look round – very impressive, especially their collection from the National Portrait Gallery of leading characters from the Tudor and Elizabethan period.